Thursday, January 29, 2009

There was an insert in my Food Network Magazine that lists 50 things you can make with a jar of spaghetti sauce. (I make my own spaghetti sauce (a staple in our house) so we thought this had some really good ideas...and we have even tried one of them..and it was AWESOME!

I have the recipes is you are interested in any of them...

1. Spanish Rice

2. Potato Casserole

3. Baked Brie

4. Mussels Marinara

5. Zesty Chip Dip

6. Quick Rataouille

7. Cocktail Sauce

8. Minestrone Soup

9. Tomato Butter

10. Olive Tapenade

11. African Stew

12. Cream of Tomato Soup (This is the one we tried...Saute' chopped herbs in butter (I didn't do this step, as my sauce has lots of seasoning)...add 1 jar of pasta sace, 2 cups of water and 1/2 c. heavy cream. simmer for 5 minutes. (I just added milk to the sauce and it made a yummo version of tomato Soup!)

Well, after the making 30 doz. Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas presents and having them shoved in the freezer, I was feeling like I couldn't find anything and that I had no food left in the freezer, so we cleaned out the freezer last night and to my surprise had over 25 meals left! Dave kept saying, "don't ever tell me we don't have anything to eat again".. :-) We were pleasantly surprised at how much was left and that there were even a few favorites left in there! :-)

I just thought I would update you on the meals we have tried so far this month (as they were all new meals we hadn't had before). We have tried the Pasta with Alfredo Sauce (YUMMO!) and Mom's Chicken Noodle Casserole (YUMMO!) and Ham and Scalloped Potatoes (EXTRA YUMMO!) and Giant Calzone (YUMMO!). So far, everything has been a hit!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Here is a recipe for a white sauce that replaces the cream of soup cans that are loaded with salt and an easy way to make. You can use this for a variety of things, (fettucini alfredo, scalloped potatoes, chicken tettrazini, chicken noodle casserole, and many many more).

Monday, January 5, 2009

I know I am a little behind on posting what we did, but it has been a little crazy around here for the holidays and this has taken a back seat. :-) We did not swap in December as it was just too hectic. We are swapping in January although not till closer to the end of the month.I made homemade cinnamon rolls for friends and family for Christmas (we made 30 dozen in one day) with frosting. I have also been making homemade pizzas and bread. We have not ordered out for pizza for over 2 months now nor bought bread in over a month! Homemade bread is soo much better and the kids love it. I can't make it fast enough. :-) Although, kids are learning how to make it too, so that helps. I make a mix for the dry ingredients and they are packaged, and so all they have to do is dump in the bread maker with the wet ingredients and yeast. I put it on the dough setting and then bake it in the oven instead of in the breadmaker. That is how I make the pizza dough too. One batch of pizza dough makes 2-3 10" pizzas or 6-8 individual pizzas. I also made several cheesecakes and french silk pies and homemade kit kat bars (YUMMY...kids new favorite treat) for the holidays. The french silk pies we took to Christmas dinner with Mom and Dad, and then had one for New Year's Eve and still have 2 more in freezer left. Good for several months in freezer so as we get a chocolate craving, or have company over or need to take dessert somewhere, we have one!

About Me

I am a Christian, Stay at home Mom of 4. The kids are schooled at home, (we use a public charter school), and I love to cook, we do OAMC and I cook together with a friend each month to save us both time and money.